The Monaco 24 Gets Green Light from Tag Heuer

Swiss watch maker, Tag Heuer, just announced that the Monaco Twenty Four Chronograph will be available at the end of 2010. Why am I so excited about this watch? For one, it's the name and shape: The Monaco has become synomous with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Steve McQueen, making it the ultimate "car guy's" watch. This special edition Twenty Four takes that theme to another level.

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The Twenty Four is the first watch ever to feature a shock protection system invented by Tag Heuer called the Advanced Dynamic Absorber. The movement gains protection from a shock-absorbing composite filter material that comprises the manifold's arms. Used in the racing and aerospace industry, this material insulates the Calibre 36 movement by directing vibrations into the composite filter, which absorbs and dissipates their energy. The Monaco Twenty Four Chronograph is able to withstand an impact of 24,000g, the equivalent of a 65-foot fall.

The Monaco Twenty Four Chronograph features the same square dial as the original Monaco, but its look is enhanced with a black PVD-coated case and an oversized "24" at the 12 o'clock position. Also, the 40.5-mm piece bears a two-part dial: The upper part is embellished with a blue and an orange stripe, the same design found on former F1 driver Jo Siffert's racing suit from the 1960s.

I'll have to save a whole bunch of pennies if I ever want to wear one of these the price is expected to be about $10,000. Maybe when I retire...

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